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Scott goes over first 90 days as mayor

Mayor Don Scott discusses his 90-day platform during a meeting with local media at the Jubilee Centre on Monday, January 22, 2018. The meeting marks 90 days since he was sworn in as mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Vincent McDermott/Fort McMurray Today/Postmedia Network

Mayor Don Scott took some time with media Monday afternoon to go over his first 90 days in office.

During his election campaign, Scott’s platform contained deadlines for hosting more meetings with industry groups and a strategic plan for council’s future goals.

1) Identify results of how council will improve quality of life for residents

A major objective for this point was approving the creatuion of a Wood Buffalo Economic Development Corporation (WBEDC).

The committee was approved unanimously by councillors during a Nov. 14 meeting, with $8 million set aside to get the group going. The WBEDC is currently recruiting a board of directors, which will appoint a Chief Executive Officer.

The board will include a cross-section of business leaders and representatives from key industries across the Wood Buffalo region.

Scott said the group is vital to attract new businesses and encourage more people to spend more money locally rather than in Edmonton or online.

“I don’t see why we can’t be more aggressive. Let’s not wait for people to come to us, let’s go out and get businesses to come here,” he said. “I want a lot more businesses in this region, a lot more shops and stores.”

In the next few weeks, Scott said council will present its 2018-2021 Strategic Plan to the public. Scott did not elaborate on what was in the plan, but said downtown development will play a major part.

“There’s some key things in there that set a really good compass direction going forward,” he said.

Scott added he would like to improve the relationship between council and the leaders of rural and Indigenous communities in the region.

Scott and members of council have been meeting with energy and industry leaders since they were sworn in.

In past interviews, Scott has hinted at a major announcement on commuters and work camps in the community coming this year.

The municipality has also been speaking with oil companies regarding how to transition to a 5:1 property tax ratio mandated by Alberta’s Bills 8 and 21.

“We’ve had frank discussions with them and they’ve had frank discussions with us,” said Scott.

3) Provide an update on the rebuild and fight any barriers facing residents

Council heard updates on the rebuild during a Nov. 14 council meeting. As of that date, just under 10 per cent of the 2,579 homes and units destroyed in the wildfire had been rebuilt, while one-third were nearly rebuilt. About half of the remaining building permits are expected to reach final inspection stage in 2018 and 2019.

Scott hopes the pace of the rebuild will hasten this year once spring arrives. The municipality will still meet with the Insurance Bureau of Canada, developers and the province to find ways to speed the process, he added.

“There’s still work to be done,” he said. “I’m never going to be fully satisfied until we’re a lot further ahead on that.”

Notley last visited Fort McMurray on the one-year anniversary of the 2016 wildfire, while Trudeau last visited Fort McMurray in the days following the evacuation.

“I think they should return as soon as they’re able to, to give the community a sense that they’re involved in the community and they have a continued commitment to the region,” he said.

He also invited Senator Doug Black to visit so he could be thanked for his efforts in promoting Wood Buffalo in Ottawa.

Scott and councillors have met with cabinet ministers at both levels of government since the election. Some topics discussed include rural water and sewer projects, Willow Square developments, the East Clearwater Highway and projects on Highways 63 and 881, and improvements to the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.

5) Identify present state of municipal services and assets, then offer a plan for future improvements and enhancements

Sometime this spring, the municipality will release its first ever Annual Report. This document will highlight accomplishments from 2017 and list priorities for 2018.

It will include audited financial statements, a brief overview of each department, information on the rebuild and demographic statistics.

A capital asset management plan, led by the municipality’s engineering department, will cover replacement and maintenance of everything from snowplows and firetrucks to amenity buildings operating by the municipality.

While the municipality has always budgeted for these operations, they will be streamlined under one plan for financial reasons.